And alex



Re. 1537s Feb. 26 11924.

J. H, KovAR Er AL.

connusms'nnnxrus .ron cAanrnGl ncn'lmns 2 Shout-Shut l Original FiledJupe 16. 1920 [weldaa- WH/fava?? Feb. -26 1924.

J. H. Ko'vAR-IT AL CONDENSING APPARATUS POR CARDING MACHINES 2 Shun-Shut2 Origipal Filed Juno' 16, 1920 Reissued Feb. 26, 1924.

UNITED STATES JOHN H. xovnn AND JOSEPH E. soHIMEK,

OE HOLDEN, MASSACHUSETTS, AND ALEx- ANDER CAVEDON, OF WOONSOCKET, RHODEISLAND, ASSIGNOBS T CASHIKO MA- CHINE COMPANY, 0F WORCESTER,MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSA- CHUSETTS.

CONDENSING APPARATUS FORy CARDING MACHINES.

Original No. 1,489,005, dated September 25, 1923, Serial No. 389,409,led .Tune 16, 1920. Application for reissue led December 8,

ToV all whom it may concern:

Beit known that we, JOHN H. KovAR, formerly a citizen of the Republic ofCzecho` Slovakia and now a citizenl ofthe United l States, residing atHolden, in the county of Worcester and Commonwealth of Massachusetts,JOSEPH F. SCHIMEK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Holden,in the county of Worcester and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, andALEXANDER CAVEDON, a

citizenv of the United States, residing atv Woonsocket, in the county ofProvidence and State of Rhode Island, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in a Condensing Ap aratus for Carding Machines, of

which tlie following, together with the accompanying drawin s, is aspecification.

Our invention re ates to condensing apparatus used in connection withcarding machinos in the manufacture of yarn, and it has particularreference to condensing apparatus in which a plurality of tapes areemplo ed to convey the web from the dividin ro ls to rubbing orcondensing aprons. ondensing apparatus used in the manufacture of yarnmust be extremely sensitivel and accurate in its operation owing to thefragile nature of the material handled thereby,l and as a resultcondensing apparatus, as 80 heretofore constructed, has been highly com?plicated and diicult to maintain in proper o rating condition. Theprincipal object o our invention is to provide a tape condensing machinethat is simple in construction and comprises a minimum number of parts.Further objects of our invention are to increase the accessibility ofthe moving parts of the machine, so that their Opera` tion may bereadily observed, and to provide for the ready removal of ythe variousparts for the purpose of inspection and repair. These and otheradvantageous features of our invention will hereinafter more fullyappear reference being had to the accompanyin`drawings, in which- Y v Aigure 1 is a perspective view of a tape condensing machine embodying ourinvention.

Figure 2 is a view partly in 'section and partly in side elevation,showing the opposite end of the machine shown in Fig. 1.

Figure 3 is a plan view partly in section,

i923. serial Nt. 679,504.

of the upper apron mechanism of a com lete rubbingv apron unit, only theinterm iate roll for the lower apron being shown.

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view along the line 4-4,'Fig.' 3,showing both apron mechanisms.

'Figure 5 is a sectional viewalong the line 5 5, Fig. 3.

Similar reference characters refer to similarpartsin the differentfigures.

Referring to Figs. 1 and'2, the machine generally comprises end frames 1and 2 between which are mounted the operating parts of the machine. Apair of dividing rolls 3, 3, are mounted at the front of the machine insuitable bearings 4, 4, supported in notches 5, 5, provided in the framemeinbers 1 and 2. The frame members 1 and 2 are respectively providedwith projecting portions 6, 6, for supporting guide rolls 7, 7`

parallel to the axis of'rotationof the dividi ing rolls 3, 3. The guiderolls 7 are rotatably mounted in excentric bushings 8, 8, that arecarried in openings 9, 9, provided in the pro]ecting portions 6,l 6.

A lurality of tapes 10 are carried upon the dividin rolls 3, 3, and areheld in engagement t erewith by the guide rolls 7, alternate tapes beingcarried on the same roll 3. The tapes 10 extend from the guide rollsalmost around the periphery of each dividing roll 3 to a pair of rolls11 that are rotatably mounted in e'xcentric bushings 12 dis osed innotches v13 in the end frames 1 an 2. The tapes ,'10 diverge at therolls 11, one set of tapes passinglto each of the delivery rolls 14 and15. The rolls 14 and 15 are arranged in a vertical line and are supporteby bushings 16 and 17 that are seated in notches 18 provided in theframes 1 and 2. The respective sets of tapes 10 vcome together again atthe rolls 19 from whence they pass downwardly over rolls 20 to the guidevrolls 7. The rolls 1 9 are rotatably mounted in bushings 21 carried inopenings in the end frames and the rolls20'are rotatabl supported inbushings 22 carried in notc es 23 in the end frame.

The web from the doffer onthe carding machine is delivered to the tapes10 between the dividing rolls 3, as indicated by the arrow, which dividethe web equally, one

half passing to each of the rolls 11. The web is then further divided bythe diverence of the tapes 10, at the rolls 11, each inividual tape thencarrying a separate band to be formed into roving. The rolls 14 deliverthe bands carried by their sets of tapes to pairs of rubbing aprons 24and the rolls 15 deliver the bands carried by the other sets of tapes topairs of rubbing aprons 25. The respective pairs of aprons 24 and 25 aresupported in openings 26 and 27 provided in the end frames 1 and 2, andas the apron units located in the upper opening 26 are substantially thesame in construction as the apron units located in the lower opening 27,it is only necessary to describe one complete set thereof.

Referring now to Figs. 3 and 4, there is shown one completerubbingpapron unit, in which the aprons 25 are supported at their endsby rolls 28 and 29. The rolls 28 and 29 of the upper apron 25arerotatably supported in end brackets 30 and31, which are secured tobosses 26a at the top of the .opening 26 in the endframes by bolts 32.The rolls 28 and 29 of the lower apron 25 are rotatably supported in endbrackets33 and34 that are respectively secured to the end brackets 30and 31 by means of bolts 35 passing through projecting portions 36 ofthe end brackets 33 yand 34 that are received in slots 37 provided inthe end brackets 30 and 31. The holes in the portions 36 for the bolts35 are slightly larger than the bolts 35, so that the end brackets V33and 34 are capable of vertical adjustment with respect to the endbrackets 30 and 3l. Adjusting studs 38, carried by the upper brackets 30and '31, are provided with heads 38a engaging the lower brackets 33 and34, so that the distance between the aprons 25 may be accuratelyadjusted by turning the studs 38 after loosening the bolts 35. The apronrolls 28 are supported at their ends in bushings 39 that are universallymounted in slots 40 provided in the end brackets 30, 31, 33 and 34, eachbushing 39 being provided with a rounded peripheral portion 41 that tsin curved grooves 40a provided in the slot 40. Each bushin 39 is furtherprovided with a stud 42, an nuts 43 in threaded engagement therewith, bymeans of which the rolls Y 28 may be shifted laterally in the bracketsfor regulating the tension of the aprons 25. The bushings39 are alsocapable of universal movement, for a purpose to be hereinafterdescribed.

The shafts 44 of the rolls 28 and 29 extend beyond the end brackets 30and 33 and are secured to cross-head bars 45 by means of nuts 46coacting with threaded end portions of the shafts 44. One end of eachbar 45 is provided lwith a slot 47 in substantial alinement with theslots 40 of the end brackets 30 and 33, thus permitting llateralmovement of the roll 28 with respect to the cross-head bar. A pin 48,pivotally mounted between lugs 49 on the cross-head bar 45, is securedto a boss 50 provided on one of two eccentric yoke members4 51 by meansof a stud 52. The eccentric yoke members 51 inclose an eccentric disk 53and are Asecured together thereon by means of bolts 54. The eccentricdisk 53 is carried on a vertical shaft 55 which, as best shown in Fig.2, extends the height of the end frame 2, and is provided with aneccentric disk 53 ,for each one of the cross-head bars 45. Theshaft 55is rotatably mounted insuitable bearings 56 and is provided at its lowerend with a pulley 57 by which it may be `driven from a suitable sourceof power, not shown. The eccentric disks 53 foreach pair of cross-heads45 are ii'set with respect to each other, as shown in A middle apronroll 58 is rotatably mounted between the end brackets 30 and 31 and isprovided with a shaft portion 59 which extends through the end bracket30 and terminates in an venlarged head 60. The head 60 is embraced by afork 61 carried by the cross-head bar 45., so that the middle apron roll58 is adapted to move with the crosshead when the latter is moved backand forth by the eccentric disk 53. Amiddle roll 62 carried between theend brackets 33 and 34 is supported at its ends'in eccentric bushings63, and studs 64 are provided for holding the eccentric lbushings 63 inposition. By turning the bushings 63, the axis of the roll 62 may be`shifted and in'this way the distance between the middle rolls 58 and 62may be adjusted without disturbing the adjustment between the endbrackets 30 and 33 and 31 and 34, respectively.

Referring particularly to Figs. 3, 4, and 5, sprocket .wheels 65 `and 66are rotatably mounted on extensions 39:L of the bushings 39 that .arecarried by the end'bracket 31. The sprocket wheel 66 is provided withhub portion 67 upon which are formed a pair of dogs 68. The roll 28carried between the upper end brackets 30 and 31 is provided with anextended shaft portion 69, upon which is mounted a spur gear 70. Thespur gear 70 is provided with a hub portion 71 upon which are formeddogs 72 that are adapted to slide between the dogs 68 of the sprocketwheel 66, as the roll 28 is moved longitudinally by the eccentric disk53, thus maintaining a continuous driving connection between the spurgear 70 and the sprocket 4wheel 66. The roll 28 carried between thelower end .brackets 33 and 34 is provided with anextended shaft portion73 at the end of which is mounted a spur gear 74 in mesh with the gear`70. The jteeth `of the spur gear 74 are somewhat wider .than

the teeth of the spur ygear 70, so that Athese gears will remain in meshwhen the rolls 28 are moved with respect to each other by the eccentrcs.v

All parts described thus far with relation to the upper set of aprons 25form one completea ron unit. This unit can be removed from t e machine,as a Whole, after disconnecting the pin 48, from the eccentric yokemember 51 and removing the bolts 32 which secure the end brackets 30 and31 to the end frames 1 and 2 respectively.

The upper apron roll 28 of the next pair of aprons is provided with ashaft eXtension upon which is mounted a spur gear 75 that is connectedto a sprocket wheel 7 6 by dogs 77Y and 78 in the same manner as thegear 70 is connected to the sprocket wheel 66. The lower apron roll 28of this set of aprons is provided with a shaft extension which carries aspur gear 79 in mesh with the spur gear 75. An idler sprocket wheel 80is rotatably mounted upon the bushing of the lower apron roll 29. Theapron driving sprocket wheels 66 and 7 6 and the idler sprocket wheelsand 80 are connected by a continuous chain 81 which also passes around adriving sprocket wheel 82. As best shown in Fig. 1, the sprocket Wheel82 is mounted upon a shaft 83 that is driven from a power shaft 84 bymeans of gearing 85. A pulley 86 is mounted upon the shaft 84 and is'adapted to be driven from a suitable sourcel of power, not shown.

The two pairs of aprons located in the lower frame opening 27 areadapted to be driven in the same manner by means of aprondrivingsprocket wheels 87 and 88, the idler wheel 89, the driving wheel90, and a continuous chain 91. The driving sprocket 90 is mounted on ashaft 92 that is also driven from the driving shaft 84 by suitablereduction gearing. Winding rolls 93 are mount-ed at the rear ofthemachine and are adapted to receive the condensed roving from the severalairs of aprons 24 and 25. The winding rol s 93 are adapted to be drivenin unison by a belt 94 passing over a driving pulle 95 which is alsoconnected to the driving s iaft 84 by suitable gearing.

Having thus described the various parts entering into our invention theoperation thereof is as follows The web from the carding machine isdelivered between the rolls 3 from whence it passes onto the tapes 10and is divided, substantially one half passing to each set of the tapescarried by the dividing rolls 3. The web is again divided at the rolls11 by the divergence of the tapes 10 and the sets of alternate tapescarried by the rolls 14 and 15 deliver the separate ribbons to therubbing aprons 24 and 25. The aprons 25 are given a reciprocatingmovement by the eccentrics and as the eccentrics of each set of apronsare offset with respect to each other, the aprons of each unitV exert arubbing action upon the web. At the same time the aprons arel moved bythe rolls 28 and as the separate ribbons are conveyed thereby they arecondensed into roving which is then wound upon the rolls 93.

The particular advanta eous features of our machine, as compare withmachines heretofore constructed, will now be separately considered andpointed out. In the irst place, the shafts of the delivery rolls 14 and15 are rotatably supported in bushings that are seated in notches oropenings provided in the end frames 1 and 2. In previous machines, thedelivery roll shafts have been supported -in bearings carried bybrackets separately secured to the end frames, thus necessitating a verycareful setting up and adjustment of the bearings on the frame, in orderto maintain the delivery rolls in proper alinement with respect to theaprons. In our machine, the bearings are accurately ositioned on the endframes so that there 1s little or no possibility of the bearingsshifting with respect to the aprons after the rolls are once mountedthereon.

The embodiment of the several pairs of aprons in separate units whichare readily removable from the machine is believed to be of greatadvantage, for in previous machines it has been necessary to partiallydismantle the same in order to remove a pair of aprons. In our machine,it is only necessary to remove the studs 52 in order to disconnect thecross-heads of a pair of apron rolls from the eccentric yokes and toremove the bolts 32 holding the end frames in order to take out acomplete apron unit with all of the roll mechanism attached thereto.Furthermore, the aprons of each unit are capable of adjustment inseveral ways. The tension of theaprons can be regulated by moving theend rolls 28 within the end brackets 30 and 31 and the distance betweenthe aprons can be adjusted by moving the upper and lower end bracketswith respect to each other,

through the adjusting studs 38. The eccentric bushings 63 which supportthe middle apron rolls also permit of still closer adjustment of thedistance between the middle portions of the a rons independently of theend brackets. The' connection of the middle apron rolls to thecross-heads also reduces the amount of wear on the aprons which wouldotherwise occur if the middle apron rolls were stationary, as inprevious machines. The universal mounting of the adjustable bearings 39of the apron. rolls 28 insures smooth running of the aprons for anytendency of the'aprons to bind will becompensated for by pivotalmovement of the bushings in the slots 40.

Lastly, the arrangement for driving the apron rolls without the use ofdirect reduction gearing between the roll shafts greatly simplifies themachine. It is highly desirable to be able to drive the rubbing apronsvfrom the rolls farthest removed from the tapes, so that the rubbingsurfaces will be drawn tantas .the aprons move from the front to .therea-r of lthe machine. In previous machines, ,this .result has been.obtained only by the -use of -a ,large number oit gears between Vthedriving shaft and the apron roll shafts. In tour machine, however, @theprovision of s rocket wheels coaxial with the apron noll afts land theprovision of Sliding lrivingconmectionsbetweenthe sprockets and theapron rolls, permits Vthe :use `of :a common dnimi chain, thereby thenecessity o employing :any intermediate I.gearing between the .drivingshaft `and :the apron rolls. This elimination `ott intermediate gearing.atxthc drivefendof the machine is believed to be highly advantageous,:for it not only reduces the number of moving parts but also greatlyincreases the `accessibility yof the apron ,roll units. It isfonlynecessary to fdisco-nnect the driving chai-n :trom the sprockets inonder Eto remove an apron roll unit from the end of the machine. Thiswould not be possible of attainment with .the use of reduction gearingbetween vthe driving Shaft 4and the :apron roll shafts.

While we have shown our vinvention tembodied in a ,condensing Vmachinehaving a particular arrangement vof parts, it is not so limited, butAthe several novel features thereof may as Well be embodied in othermachines of the-same general type without .departing from thespiritandscope of the vention. We desire therefore Ethat only VsuchLimitations be imposed thereon as come withinthe scope of the ,appendedclaims.

We claim:

-1. In a tape condensing machine, ,ra pair of spaced vsupportingmembers, a rubbing apron carried at its ends 'by rolls slidablelongitudinally in ysaid supporting members, an adjusting roll:eX-tending .through said apron intermediate its ends, and cylindricalbushings carried yEby said zsupporting members and teach provided withan opening eccentric with `respect ,to its axis vfor .receiving an endof said adjusting roll, whereby turning of said bushings yis adapted toshift the axis of said adjusting roll.l

2. In a .tape condensing machine, 4a y-pair of end brackets, a rubbingapron, rolls slidable longitudinally in said brackets for supsortingsaid 4apronat its ends, an intermeried .by `said brackets 4vforrotatably and slidably `supporting said intermediate roll, said bushingsbeing eccentric :about the axis of rotation of said intermediate roll,whereby said apron may be adjusted .-by turning said eccentric bushings.

3. In -a tape condensing machine, a pair of rolls, a .rabbin aproncarried at its ends by said rolls, and va sleeve bearing capable ofuniversal movement :about a vertical axis late apron adjusting roll, andbushings cari for rotatably and slidably supporting one of said apronrolls.

4. In ata-pe condensing machine, a pair of brackets, a rubbing a ron, apair of rolls extending between sai brackets for supporting said .apronat its ends, and a sleeve caring capable of universal movement about avertical axis in a slot provided in one of said Ybrackets for rotatablyand slidably supporting one of said apron rolls.

In a tape condensing machine, end brackets, apron rolls, a pair ofrubbing aprons Ieach carried by a set of rolls rotatably mounted inhorizontally Yalined end brackets, means for securing vertically alinedbrackets together, in pairs, with said aprons a predetermined distanceapart, and further means vfor vertically adjusting the brackets toyregulate the distance between said aprons.

6. In a tape condensing machine, end brackets, apron rolls, va pair ofrubbing aprons .each carried by a :set of rolls rotatably mounted inhorizontally alined end brackets, means for securing vertically alinedbrackets together, in pairs, with said aprons a predetermined distanceapart, and means coacting With each pair `of ysaid brackets foradjusting the vdistance between said aprons.

7. In a tape condensing machine, .end-

brackets, apron rolls, a pair ,of rubbing aprons each carried by a setof rolls rotatably mounted in horizontally alined .end brackets, meansfor securing vertically alined brackets together, in pairs, AWith saidaprons a predeterminedrdistance apart, and studs respectively having an`operating portion between each pair of brackets for vadjusting thedistance between said aprons.

8. In a tape condensing machine, end brackets, apron rolls, a pair ofrubbing aprons each carried by a set lof rolls rotatably mounted inhorizontally alined end brackets, means for securing vertically alined`brackets together, in pairs, With ,said aprons a predetermined distanceapart, and' means for shifting the axis of rotation `of one of saidrolls for adjusting the distance between said aprons.

9. Ina tape condensing machine, end brackets, apron rolls, a pair .ofrubbing aprons each carried by a set of rolls yrotatably mounted inhorizontally alined ,end brackets, ,the said brackets and the said rollsbeing vertically adjustable with respect to each other to vary theldistance Ibetween the aprons.

10. In` :a tape condensing machine, end brackets, apron rolls, a pair ofyrubbing aprons each carried by a set of .rolls rotatably mounted ifnhorizontally alined end brackets, the said brackets being verticallyadjustable with respect to 'each other .to vary the distance betweenthe'rolls, .and the axis of rotation of one of said rolls beingshiftable to vary the distance between the Y. aprons.

11. In a tape condensing machine, end brackets, apron rolls, a pair ofrubbing a rons each carried by a set of rolls rotatly mounted inhorizontally alined end brackets, the brackets and rolls for one apronbeing fixed and the brackets and one roll for the other apron beingvertically adjustable with respect theretofor regulating the distancebetween said aprons.

12. In a tape condensing machine, a rubbing apron, a cross member, aplurality of apron rolls slidably mounted and connected to said crossmember, a rotatable shaft provided with an eccentric disk, a yokeembracing said disk and provided with a boss having an opening therein,a pin pivotall mounted on said cross member and exten ing into saidopening and means co-actin with said boss for removably securing sai pinin said opening.

13. In a tape condensing machine, a rotatable shaft, a pair of rubbingaprons, a

stationa frame member, a lurality of apron ro 1s rotatably and slida lymounted in bearings carried by said frame member, means for lo'tudinally moving said rolls, a sprocket w eel rotatable about the axis0f one of said rolls, a chain connecting said sprocket wheel to saidrotatable shaft, and a driving connection between said sprocket wheeland its associated roll, whereby said roll is driven by said shaftsimultaneously with longitudinal movement in its Abearin 14. n a tapecondensin machine, rotatably and slidably mount rolls, a rubbin aproncarried on said rolls, one of whic is provided with a shaft havin a gearmounted at its end, means for shi ing said shaft longitudinally, and asprocket wheel coaxial with said shaft and continuously connected tosaid gear by dogs in sliding engagement.

15. In a tape condensing machine, rotatabl v and slidably mounted rolls,a pair of ru bin aprons carried on said rolls, one roll o each apronbein provided with an extended shaft, intermes lng ars carried by saidshafts, and a sproc et wheel coaxial with one of said shafts forcontinuously driving said gears.

16. In a tape condensing machine, rotatabl and slidably mounted rolls, apair of ru bing aprons carried on said rolls, one roll of each apronbeing provided with an extended shaft, and the said shafts being adaptedfor relative longitudinal movement, intermeshing gears having teeth ofdifferent length carried at the ends of said shafts and a sprocket wheelcoaxial with one of said shafts and continuously connected to one ofsaid gears by sliding dogs.

17. In a tape condensing machine, a rotating shaft, a rubbing apron, apair of rotatably and slidably mounted rolls carrying said apron, meansfor longitudinally moving said rolls, a s rocket wheel coaxial with t eextended sha of one of said rolls, a chain connecting said sprocketwheel to said rotating sha t, and a slidable drivin connection betweensaid sprocket wheel an said roll shaft, whereby said apron is adapted tobe driven by the rotation of said rolls simultaneously with thelongitudinal movement thereof.

-Dated this seventeenth day' of November, 1923.

JOHN H. KOVAR. JOSEPH F. SCHIMEK. ALEXANDER CAVEDON.

